POWERGRAMS

37 It's no secret that Birmingham's renaissance is infectious. Where its streets were once desolate after the workday, now restaurants, retail, entertainment and residential spaces fill century-old buildings. Giving these buildings a second chance gives the city a shot at reclaiming its early moniker "the Magic City." Operating out of a 1909 warehouse on the north side of downtown, The Literacy Council of Central Alabama specializes in second chances. Not only is its mission to develop adult reading skills, the organization, too, has experienced its own second chance. In 1991, The Literacy Council was formed through a partnership of the United Way of Central Alabama, the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and the Junior League of Alabama. Alabama Power has been a consistent supporter from the start, with former CEO Elmer Harris signing the first donation check. Moving to Liberty House Lofts in the mid-1990s, The Literacy Council was ahead of the revitalization curve, as its leaders saw the importance of having a central location for learners, volunteers and partners. To understand the importance of location for The Literacy Council, one must know the people served and the needs that exist. More than 92,000 adults in the surrounding five- county area (Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby and Walker) are functionally illiterate, meaning they can't fill out a job application, earn a GED certificate or understand the label on a prescription bottle. "From our youngest at 18 to our oldest at 87, our learners are people who, for whatever reason and for whatever circumstances in their lives, needed a second chance to learn," said Missy Burchart, vice president of communications and development. "Our learners are incredibly smart. They are moms and dads who are working and raising families, who have lived their lives having to cope and function." In addition to its staff, The Literacy Council relies heavily on the support of corporate and community partners and volunteers. The downtown location quickly became accessible for learners and tutors. "The Alabama Power Foundation has been a proud partner of The Literacy Council for many years," said Myla Calhoun, president of the Alabama Power Foundation. "By providing adult literacy and ESOL classes, The Literacy Council helps its clients gain a skill that is both basic and critical: the ability to communicate. I am excited to see this organization grow to serve even more important needs in our community." But after one night in May 2014, The Literacy Council's stability was challenged by a fire that gutted the Liberty Lofts building. Immediately, the staff and board members worked to find a solution. "This is a strong team and the day or two after the fire, we sat down and realized what it would take," Burchart said. "Our board and even our junior board were outstanding. There wasn't one person who didn't pitch in." Burchart is quick to add that the team extends far beyond the staff and board members. Men from the Jimmie Hale Mission showed up the morning after to help clear debris. One thing The Literacy Council staff knew: they would do whatever it took to remain in place. They set out on a campaign to raise $500,000 in four months to cover renovations and increase capacity. "We could have gone out of the city center but that's not who we are or what we do. It is critical that we stay consistent and provide a mutually convenient place for our learners and tutors. With our location on the bus line, and in a public downtown space, relocation was simply not a good option for us," Burchart said. The leadership had considered looking for more space before the fire. They found the offices weren't conducive to optimum learning and did not meet the needs of their growing organization. With the help of Brasfield & Gorrie as builder and Goodwyn Mill Cawood as architects, renovations would allow The Literacy Council to serve more learners and provide new programs. "We knew exactly what we would need to rebuild, but also realized we would need to raise funds for increased capacity. We saw with the new space that we would be able to serve more people and, as a The Literacy Council EDUCATION Renovated offices in Liberty House Lofts reopened in 2015. High school equivalency classes are popular.

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